Blogger Spotlight Interview: Herding Cats

Welcome to the Blogger Spotlight Interview. This week we have Kerry from Herding Cats taking part.

If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m Kerry. I’m 41. I live in the North East of England with my husband, two children, a son aged 9 (almost 10) and a daughter aged 5 and an old Labrador called Darwin. I am a teacher/SENDco, currently on adoption leave.

2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?

I named my blog Herding Cats because when I started it that’s what my life felt like, and still does. I had so many things that I wanted to write about so decided not to have a specific, single theme for my blog and see where it took me. After teaching and parenting my main passion is books so I knew those three things were going to be very prominent.

3 Why did you decide to start a blog?

Initially, I began my blog two years ago with a post about how my son was struggling in school (he is diagnosed with Autism) but how there were limited options for him. I never wrote anything else as I was scared to put my writing out there and didn’t know how to publish blog posts and keep them anonymous. I’ve always wanted to write but always been scared of the feedback I might receive.

Two years later I found myself on adoption leave and decided to give it a go again. Although still really petrified of anyone seeing my writing, I decided I had nothing to lose. I only dipped in and out of Twitter occasionally, so I started a new profile for my blog and quickly began making links.

I’ve now started my first children’s book. Not sure where it will lead or if it will ever be read but I’ve gained the confidence to begin.

4 Do you have any goals for your blog?

I tend to be a bit obsessive watching my views and hits creep up and I’m trying not to be. To be honest, my main goal is for people to read my writing and engage with my posts. If this is happening, then I’m happy. If any of my education/parenting posts support another person or resonates with people, then this is a very satisfying bonus.

5 Tell us one random fact about you

Erm ……… I’m a shoe and handbag collector. I just love them, they don’t tend to care about my weight or clash with my hair colour and not fasten around my boobs.

6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?

Don’t get bogged down with setting deadlines or targets. I’ve learned quickly only to set deadlines for a book tour piece. My own interest pieces will come when they can. It’s my hobby and it’s not supposed to cause me stress.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I love the fact that someone is reading something I wrote and I’m getting a lot of comments and conversations on some posts which is even better.

I’ve also discovered the Twitter blogging community through link-ups and general chats. It’s really supportive and a good way to get your blog out there as well as to discover other blogs. I’d never really read blogs before but I’m loving it.

I also get to read new books (sometimes in advance of release) and I love this aspect as reading is my favourite thing to do.

8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?

I would have stuck with it the first time around and continued to blog. I’ve gained so much confidence from the whole process and experience.

9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I think if you are thinking about it – do it! Do it at your own pace, for your own benefit and don’t be scared to put yourself out there.

10 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)

My blog, Herding Cats, and Twitter.